Many animals are habitable in the cold and blustery winter months. A lot of pet owners do not keep their animals in their homes and unfortunately just like humans, some outdoor pets can experience severe dehydration or injury if certain precautions are not taken to protect them. Outdoor animals could be susceptible to a certain amount of stress if they are exposed to severe weather conditions. Just as you prepare for your outdoor pets to have sufficient food and water during the hot summer months, you have to make preparations for them during the harsh winter months as well.

Quite often we witness rescues of some domestic and wild animals getting trapped in freezing cold water while they were walking on an ice laden pond or lake, as the ice gave way under them. Even if you have certain breeds of pets that are suited for enduring the cold weather (like sled dogs for example), they still need proper protection from the freezing cold elements.

Dehydration occurs when animals may have adequate outdoor shelter, but the low temperatures will cause their drinking water to freeze, leaving them with no water to drink. By frequently checking their drinking water or placing it in an insulated container, this could help to significantly reduce the possibility for dehydration, whether they are indoors or outside.

Hypothermia or frostbite occurs when a dangerous drop in body temperature can leave animals vulnerable to conditions such as pneumonia and infection. Ultimately, extended periods of exposure to the frigid elements could cause irreparable damage to the tissue in areas such as the ears, paws, tail and nose, or even worse, death. Just as you would protect yourself from exposure to extremely cold temperatures, be sure to do the same for your horse, dog, cat or even your iguana.

Do you know what’s in your family’s drinking water? Asbestos, antimony, copper and even chromium can be found in in your home’s drinking water. According to the Drinking Water Contaminants Chart produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, there are microorganisms, disinfectants, organic chemicals and even radionuclides found in your primary drinking water. While there are regulations preventing too many contaminants or particles from being in your water, there are ways that you can personally protect both you and your family.

What can be most unnerving about contaminants being in your drinking water is the possibility that it can make you sick. To prevent this, consider using a whole house filtration system. These systems will filter things like sediment, chlorine and cysts not only from your drinking water, but your entire water system. The Culligan HF-360 is a whole house water filter housing that can be attached to your main water line at the point of entry. The clear housing makes it easy for you to see when to change your filter, and to view all of the contaminants that you are no longer drinking!

Another easy way to filter the water you drink is to use a water pitcher. Rather than drinking directly from the tap, put your water through a Brita Pitcher to ensure that contaminants are filtered out. If you, like me, are guilty of buying a bottle of water at the store which is harmful not only to the environment, but your wallet as well, consider the Filtrete Water Station. This water station features 4 portable bottles of water that are easy to take with you everywhere.

With the cold, drying winter months just around the corner, you are no doubt feeling the effects of dry, cracked skin. Most people don’t know that much of this can be attributed to contaminants and particulates in the water that you bathe with. To combat this, consider a Sprite Shower Falls shower head filter. This shower head comes in a stylish chrome finish and has a 5-way massaging spray. Beat the need for expensive moisturizers and skin treatments with this stylish shower head.

While there are contaminants and particulates in your water, there are ways to protect yourself and your family. By taking a few simple steps and installing a whole house water filtration system, or purchasing a filtering shower head, you can combat the effects of contaminants in your water.

An ancient technique for purifying water may offer new hope for the over 1 billion people who have no access to clean drinking water. The Moringa oleifera tree has been used for hundreds of years by people in Sudan to purify water, as well as for food. The method has never been widely disseminated, but in 2010 a publication by Michael Lea revealed the Moringa tree’s properties. According to Lea, when the seeds of this tree are crushed into powder and mixed with surface water, a reduction of bacteria by 90-99 percent can be achieved.

This news provides great hope for those living in areas where the tree is widely grown, including Africa, Central and South America, India, and Southeast Asia. In Ghana, the Moringa tree is grown on plantations, and its leaves are used for food and the seeds used as a spice. According to the UN site IRIN, the tree grows quickly and resists drought, and can be grown in many areas. The seeds are soft and can be easily crushed, the IRIN site further states. The fact that the tree is already widely grown, and the ease with which the seeds can be crushed, make this method ideal for those without other sources of water purification.

Kebreab Ghebremichael, a water purification expert with UNESCO, states that using the seeds of Moringa tree is probably best employed at a household level. According to him, the seeds would pose problems with odor and taste if forced to sit for extended periods of time when used on a large scale basis. He further states that this method would work better for surface water than with underground water, and that it is best used for emergencies and where other methods of water purification are not available.